UK YouTubers go hands-on with Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee

2 months before release!

The other day when I was scrolling around YouTube, as we all do, I noticed a strange notification. A YouTuber called Bird Keeper Toby posted a “Let’s Play” video of Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu, a game that isn’t scheduled to release for over two months. Intrigued, I clicked on the link. Turns out he was one of very few to actually play Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee through the Pokemon Headquarters in the United Kingdom. Thanks to his role on Youtube, he and other YouTubers got to play the game all the way up to the fight with Brock and then participate in some multiplayer matches.

Bird Keeper Toby went on to create three Let’s Play videos from the experience, primarily showing off and digging into the game’s new features. He ran into teasers of Team Rocket’s Jessie and James, and got more info detailing the new co-op mechanic. He also did a quick video highlighting all the Easter eggs he could find, including the poster of Nidorino and Gengar from the first Pokemon anime episode: Pokemon I Choose You!, demonstrating that this game’s world is indeed straight out of the show. This means a lot for fans who were into the original series and older games but have fallen out of love with Pokemon as it became more and more complex.

After a fractious few years between Nintendo and YouTube content creators, it seems that Nintendo is learning the value of exposure on YouTube if they are allowing this kind of pre-release access to their game. However, it can be noted that the YouTubers were only allowed to play certain parts of the game, so Nintendo is still keeping a leash on the YouTubing platform. Still, it’s a step in the right direction, as it gets more fans, old, new, and returning, excited for this more casual and simplified Pokemon game. Perhaps Nintendo will be more accepting of YouTubers covering their games in the future.

Check out this link to Bird Keeper Toby’s first Let’s Play of Let’s Go Pikachu and get excited to return to Kanto!